Do you have an itchy scalp?

In adults, seborrhoeic dermatitis usually affects the scalp and causes a bad case of dandruff.

Your scalp develops dry, flaky skin, and it begins to itch.

Whenever you are under stress, the itch worsens. Sometimes, blotches of redness appear on the skin, especially around your face, upper chest, back and groin area.

You may be suffering from a condition known as seborrhoeic dermatitis.

Seborrhoeic dermatitis is a common skin ailment that is similar to eczema. It causes flaky, white to yellowish scales to form on oily areas of the skin such as the scalp, face or inside the ear. It can occur with or without reddened skin.

As seborrhoeic dermatitis is very common, most people do not realise that it is a problem. They treat this as part of the growth process.

Cradle cap is the term used when seborrhoeic dermatitis affects the scalp of infants, and it usually clears after a few months.

In adults, seborrhoeic dermatitis usually affects the scalp and causes a high production of dandruff. Sometimes, it appears as scaly patches or red skin that can itch or burn.

A common chronic skin problem

Seborrhoeic dermatitis affects 2-10% of the general population. In a study published in 2008, the Chinese Journal of Dermatovenero-logy reported that the incidence of Asian adolescents aged 12-20 years affected by seborrhoeic dermatitis are, in Macao (2.66%), Guangzhou (2.85%), Malaysia (17.16%), and Indonesia (26.45%).

An infant suffering from cradle cap. Cradle cap is a form of seborrhoeic dermatitis: an itchy, flaky rash of unknown cause.

Seborrhoeic dermatitis affects areas where sebaceous glands (oil glands) are present in high density and are most active. This skin disorder causes scaling, erythema (reddening), and sometimes pruritus (itching), which progresses to flakiness, and when it becomes more severe, crusting of the skin.

Apart from the scalp, some commonly affected areas are the naso-labial folds (nose area), eyebrows, eyelids, behind the ears, face and centre of the chest.

According to Datuk Dr Noor Zalmy Azizan, a consultant dermatologist at Hospital Kuala Lumpur, seborrhoeic dermatitis is often under-diagnosed and under-treated. The reason is because even though this skin disorder can be uncomfortable and causes embarrassment, it does not really affect general overall health. Thus few patients make a fuss about it.

In infants, seborrhoeic dermatitis takes the form of cradle cap (yellowish scaling on the scalp) and inflammation of the groin folds that often manifests in the first few weeks of life.

Dr Zalmy explained that infantile seborrhoeic dermatitis does not necessarily cause extreme itchiness. Hence, the baby often appears undisturbed by the rash, and the condition is usually resolved when the baby is 12 months old.

In adults however, seborrhoeic dermatitis may take the form of red, yellow or whitish scaly patches on the scalp, behind the ears or on the eyebrows. It may look like a bad case of dandruff on their face!

Adults – usually those aged 30-60 – who are struggling with seborrhoeic dermatitis often live their lives feeling embarrassed at work and in their social life. They are often described as being dirty, unhygienic, and even drunk (the red face).

This skin disorder may need many repeated treatments before the symptoms go away.

Even though there is no specific cure for seborrhoeic dermatitis, there is a wide range of products available to treat its symptoms.

Consensus on treatment recommendations

To address specific issues of skin diseases, the Primary Care Skin Forum 2016 was held at the Hilton Kuala Lumpur earlier this year.

Along with the views and recommendations of experts, the forum also saw the launch of a new guidebook for seborrhoeic dermatitis, the Asia-Pacific Seborrhoeic Dermatitis Leaders’ Summit 2014: Consensus Recommendations for the Diagnosis and Management of Seborrhoeic Dermatitis in Asian Patients.

This guidebook summarises the consensus recommendations by Asian consultant dermatologists and consultant paediatricians regarding the diagnosis and management of seborrhoeic dermatitis within the Asian context.

Speaking at the event was University of Catania, Italy, Dermatology Department head and Dermatologist Residency Program director Prof Dr Giuseppe Micali, who highlighted the limitation of the current treatments for seborrhoeic dermatitis.

Seborrhoeic dermatitis is often under-diagnosed and under-treated.

“In my experience, when there’s inflammation, topical anti-fungal ointments are not very effective. So, we need a combination of therapies.

“There needs to be non-prescription agents, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories and antifungals that represent a promising approach in the management of some mild to moderate forms of seborrhoeic dermatitis, as demonstrated by in vitro and in vivo studies,” he said.

The quest for a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory treatment modality is urgent because most present treatments focus on using corticosteroids to treat the potential presence of fungi or other organisms on the surface of the skin. However, this group of drugs do have some unfavourable side effects, especially when used long-term or on sensitive areas of the skin such as the face and hands, or on children.

The side effects vary from mild and reversible thinning, to irreversible telangiectasiae (fine blood vessels becoming visible at the surface of the skin), striae distensae (marks similar in appearance to stretch marks) and Cushing syndrome (a round-shaped face, upper body weight gain, and skin that bruises easily).

With regular use, the steroids’ effectiveness may also be affected, and that may lead to the use of more potent steroids.

There may also be a risk of growth suppression and adrenal suppression in children with the use of topical steroids.

Recommendations by experts

One of the strongest consensus recommendations in the guidebook is the use of an anti-inflammatory agent that is non-steroidal and has anti-fungal properties as first line treatment.

This agent should help enhance the natural barrier of the skin (which is altered in seborrhoeic dermatitis), and subsequently restore its natural physiology.

The agent in question is a cream that has been shown to work within days in babies diagnosed with cradle cap, as presented in real patient case studies by Malaysian paediatricians during the launch of the guidebook.

The cream has been shown to be effective and well-tolerated for treatment of mild to moderate seborrhoeic dermatitis of the face, scalp and body. It has been shown to provide comparable results with topical steroid (desonide cream 0.05%), but with better relapse prevention rates.

The cream contains none of the immune-suppressing agents or steroids. On top of that, it is effective as single therapy (monotherapy) for the treatment of mild to moderate seborrhoeic dermatitis.

Prof Micali observed that the effectiveness of the cream is most likely due to a synergistic effect of piroctone olamine (antimycotic action), propylene glycol (keratolytic action), allantoin and glycyrrhetinic acid (anti-inflammatory action).

This non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory cream provides an effective option for the management of this disease.

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This article is courtesy of A. Menarini.

You may be vegetarian because you have a special gene

Those who favour a plant-based diet may be hardwired that way.

In an intriguing new study, researchers at Cornell University in the US report the discovery of a genetic variation that evolved over generations in populations who ate vegetarian diets.

Historically, vegetarian populations are in India, Africa and parts of East Asia, the scientists found.

The genetic adaptation allows them to “efficiently process omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, and convert them into compounds essential for early brain development,” revealed the study, which was published in the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution.

But Cornell researchers also found that the “vegetarian gene” may increase the risk of heart disease and colon cancer for some.

Those who eat green and have the genetic variation, “If they stray from a balanced omega-6 to omega-3 diet, it may make [them] more susceptible to inflammation, and by association, increased risk of heart disease and colon cancer”.

The research team studied the frequencies of the “vegetarian” genetic variation in 234 primarily vegetarian Indians and 311 Americans. While only 18% of the American subjects had the “vegetarian gene”, a whopping 68% of the Indian participants had it. – Star Tribune (Minnea-polis)/Tribune News Service

Required daily intake of Vitamin C

Question:

“Can I overdose on Vitamin C? Does the required daily intake of vitamin C differ from person to person?”


 

Answer:
 

The required daily intake of vitamin C differs from person to person depending on age, gender and underlying health conditions. The best way to take vitamin C supplements is 2 -3 times per day with meals depending on the dosage.

Some studies suggest that adults should take 250 - 500 mg twice a day for any benefit. It is recommended to talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking more than 1,000 mg of vitamin C on a daily basis and before giving vitamin C to a child.

Daily intake of dietary vitamin C according to the National Academy of Sciences is listed as follows:

	Age		Daily requirement (mg)
	Birth to 6 months		40
	Infants 6-12 months		50
	Children 1-3 years		15
	Children 4-8 years		25
	Children 9-13 years		45
	Girls 14-18 years		75
	Men over 18 years		90
	Women over 18 years		75
	Pregnant women over 18 years		85

For smokers, they may need an additional 35mg of vitamin C per day, as smoking depletes the body’s store of vitamin C.


Side effects?

Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin and is generally considered safe because your body gets rid of what it does not use. So, theoretically, you should not be overdose on vitamin C. But, at high doses (more than 2000 mg per day), it can cause diarrhoea, gas, or stomach upset. If you do experience these side effects, lower your dose of vitamin C.


Vitamin C supplementation under special circumstances

• Since vitamin C increases the iron absorption in foods, people with haemochromatosis, an inherited condition that causes too much iron to build up in the body, should not take vitamin C supplements.

• People with kidney stones or those who are prone to have kidney stones should seek medical advice before taking vitamin C supplements.

• As nicotine decreases the efficacy of vitamin C in the body, people using nicotine replacement therapy such as gums or patches may need more vitamin C daily.

• Pregnant ladies are advised to seek medical advice before taking more than 1,000 mg of vitamin C daily. This is to prevent infants being born with rebound scurvy, caused by their mother taking mega doses of vitamin C during pregnancy.

• People with sickle cell anemia or G6PD, a metabolic disorder, should not take high doses of vitamin C, as doing so could cause serious side effects.

• Vitamin C may raise blood sugar level in people with diabetes. People with diabetes are advised to monitor their blood sugar regularly while taking vitamin C supplements.

• People who are being treated for cancer should talk to their oncologist before taking vitamin C, as vitamin C may potentially interact with some chemotherapy drugs.

• Use vitamin C cautiously in chronic, large doses. Healthy adults who take chronic, large doses of vitamin C may experience low blood levels of vitamin C when they stop taking the high doses and resume normal intake, as the body continues to get rid of vitamin C.

Source: http://www.healthtoday.net/

Here’s what science says about the age we have sex for the first time

How long someone stays a virgin may be genetic, says new study. 

A DNA study of more than 380,000 people has uncovered a rather surprising role for human genes: helping to determine the age at which you first have sex.

Factors such as family stability, peer pressure and personality type are all known to influence whether teenagers choose to engage in sex young, or abstain until adulthood.

Now a huge gene trawl has revealed that “genes have a substantial influence” too, according to study co-author Ken Ong of the Institute of Metabolic Science at the University of Cambridge.

Genetic factors, he says, “explain around 25 per cent of the differences in the age when people start to have sex”.

The genes likely influence such factors as the age at which puberty hits, and whether or not you posses a risk-taking personality.

The average age of sexual maturity for both genders has decreased from about 18 years in 1880, to 12.5 in 1980, according to the study authors.

Scientists have blamed changes in nutrition and the larger physical size of children today, as well as exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals.

Ong and a team analysed the genes of more than 125,000 participants in a British health study, and noted an association between 38 gene variants and the age at which they first had intercourse.

It is not just lifestyle factors and the environment that changes the age we lose our virginity, genetics may play a big role too. Photo: AFP/Shutterstock

They cross-checked this with gene datasets for 241,000 people in Iceland and 20,000 in the US, for a total sample size of over 380,000 people.

“We found that the size of the influence of genetic factors remained constant across decades of growing up, from the 1950s to the 1980s – this shows that genetic factors are relevant across a wide range of cultures and social attitudes,” Ong said.

Beyond socio-cultural factors

Many of the gene variants were also linked to other reproductive traits, such as age at birth of one’s first child, and the number of children borne, they found.

The research was published in the journal Nature Genetics.

Previous research had shown that people who start having sex at a young age are more likely to under-perform at school and have poorer physical and mental health.

Early onset puberty has been linked to a higher risk for diabetes, heart disease and some cancers.

But most research so far has focused on the socio-cultural causes for teenage sex.

The team said it hoped the findings will help identify and help children more prone, genetically and otherwise, to engage in risky behaviour. – AFP Relaxnews

Top 10 Most Important Medical Discoveries

Medicine is an ever-evolving field. New breakthroughs are being made all the time, but there are some discoveries that will always stand out as changing human thinking forever. Thanks to medicine, diseases have been eradicated, babies have been created and illnesses that used to be serious are now relatively mild. So, be grateful for living in the 21st century as we take a look at the Top 10 Most Important Medical Discoveries.

10. Anesthetic

If you’ve ever visited a museum of naval history, you will inevitably have come across a display that shows how they used to do surgical procedures on board ships in the 1800s. Amputations were done on a table, with the injured man biting on a piece of wood to stop from screaming. You probably shuddered then and are probably shuddering now.

Fortunately, the late 19th century saw the discovery of anesthetia, which numbs all sensation in the patient. An early anaesthetic was cocaine, first isolated by Karl Koller. It was an effective numbing agent, but as we now know it is also addictive and open to abuse. Around the same time, chloroform was also being used to numb pain (as demonstrated by John Snow during one of Queen Victoria’s births), but this too had potentially lethal side-effects. Luckily, today’s anesthetics are both effective and safe.

9. Birth Control

Another huge difference that occurred in the late 19th century was the drop in birth rate as people started choosing to have smaller families. In the UK, for instance, the birth rate was 35.5 births per 1,000 people in 1870 and was down to 29 per 1,000 in 1900. This was, in part, due to better education about sex and reproduction but it was also due to better methods of birth control.

In the US, the “birth control movement” started a few years later, when a group of radicals, led byEmma Goodman (above), decided to start educating their fellow women about contraception to try and control the number of unwanted pregnancies. Their campaign was eventually successful and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America was formed in 1942. Birth control remains unpopular with some religious groups, but it has had a profound and undeniable social effect.

8. MMR

Another controversial one now, with the combined vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella. It was licensed in 1971, by Maurice Hilleman and immediately had a significant effect on the number of measles cases reported, with hundreds of thousands in the US during the 1960s (1966 saw 450,000) reduced to thousands by the 1980s.

The controversy occurred much later, in 1998, when Andrew Wakefield was paid by lawyers to find a way to discredit the MMR. He did this effectively, by publishing a paper claiming that there was a link between the MMR vaccine and autism. The research has since been entirely discredited, but the effects on vaccination rates was devastating, with the officially eliminated disease reoccurring in the US. Similarly, in the UK the number of measles cases had dropped to 56 in 1998 and was up to 1348 in 2008. There is also an epidemic in the UK in 2013, largely around Wales. MMR rates are now increasing again, thanks to emergency vaccination programs and it can be safely said that the MMR is a significant medical breakthrough.

7. X-Ray

A medical procedure that is now so common that we take it for granted, the X-Ray was discovered by accident. Its inventor was Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen and on 8 Nov, 1895 he discovered that his cathode ray tube could produce some unusual images. A week later, he x-rayed his wife’s hand and the resulting image was close to our modern x-rays – her bones and wedding ring were clearly visible, but flesh was not. He named it “X-ray” as the x stood for “unknown”, but they are occasionally known as Röntgen rays in his native Germany. He was awarded the first Nobel Prize in 1901 and his invention continues to be used in hospitals everywhere.

6. Insulin

Another breakthrough that is used on a daily basis by diabetics, insulin is the life-saving hormone that keeps our blood sugars in check. Diabetics are either missing this hormone entirely (with type 1 diabetes) or produce it but not in a way their bodies can use (type 2). It was first isolated in 1921, by scientists from the University of Toronto, who were later awarded the Nobel Prize for their discovery. The following year, a 14-year-old called Leonard Thompson (above) became the first human to receive artificial insulin after coming close to a diabetic coma. He rallied after his second dose (the first was found to be impure) and lived another 13 years.

It’s hard to imagine, given that diabetics can now live very normal lives, but Type 1 Diabetes used to be a terminal disease. Apart from diet management, there was nothing that could be done to combat the disease. Nowadays, it still isn’t curable but is manageable thanks to insulin – just as well, given that obesity rates are rising, and diabetes rates with them. Insulin could become the most useful drug in the world…

5. IVF

While birth control was a major breakthrough in limiting unwanted pregnancies, its opposite in many ways,  is just as important. In-vitro fertilization is a way of creating pregnancies, for people who have no other way of getting pregnant. The history of IVF dates back to the 1950s, but it wasn’t until 1978 that the first “test-tube baby” was born. The second was born a year later in Scotland, although there were unconfirmed reports that there had been a baby born in India between the two.

As with any science that is seen to interfere with natural conception, IVF has been controversial. It is still outlawed by the Catholic Church, with its teaching describing babies born through IVF as a “commodity”. There has also been criticism from other quarters about the multi-million dollar nature of the IVF industry and the implications of allowing couples to “design” their baby by selecting embryos based on gender etc. But for childless couples, IVF is a miracle and it should be recognized as an amazing breakthrough.

4. Germ Theory

The discovery of germs was such a huge moment in the history of medicine that it completely changed the way that we think. Prior to that, patients were advised to carry around things that smelt bad, in order to ward off the “bad air” or miasma, particles of decaying matter that got into the air and caused diseases. The actual cause of disease – germs – were discovered by various scientists, but the breakthrough came in 1854, when John Snow linked an outbreak of cholera to a specific water pump in Broad Street, London.

By isolating the source of the disease, he could then analyze what was in the water causing it. He tracked it down to an old cesspit, over which the pump was built and specifically a baby’s nappy that contained the cholera germs. However, his work was rejected by the government of the time, as the idea of people breathing in other people’s fecal matter was considered unseemly. A few years later, Louis Pasteur managed to prove germ theory in laboratory conditions and it is his name that is generally linked to the theory. The work of both men lives on, however, in much-improved sanitation and consequent lower levels of disease.

3. Penicillin

Another groundbreaking drug that has become so widely used that it seems commonplace. Penicillin was discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928, almost entirely by accident – a petri dish left overnight showed that a mold was actively repelling the bacteria around it. Fleming developed the anti-biotic and it is now used to treat a number of viruses and infections. A fortuitous discovery that has affected medicine in a profound way ever since.

2. Smallpox Vaccination

This is a real success story for vaccinations. Smallpox was once a horror of a disease – killing in its millions – but it has been entirely eradicated thanks to the vaccine. The last recorded case was in 1977, but the worldwide figures for the 20th century still stand at around 30 million deaths. It was also notorious for killing thousands in the colonies, as colonists brought the pox with them and passed it on to the natives. The vaccine was discovered by Edward Jenner, who had learned that a milkmaid was immune to the disease because she’d been exposed to cowpox. Jenner isolated the cowpox and used them as a successful vaccine. One of the greatest achievements in medical history.

1. DNA

As amazing as all the discoveries so far have been, there is only one which unpicks the fabric of who we are – and that’s DNA. It dictates which physical attributes about us, from eye color to genetic disease. It has played its part in IVF, forensics and so many other fields. As with many on our list, the discovery was the work of several people, but it was Francis Crick and James Watson who first produced the double-helix model and subsequently won the Nobel Prize. An amazing insight into what makes us.

Source: http://www.smashinglists.com/

Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Wear Your Underwear In Bed

Wearing underwear to bed is bad for your health, according to a gynaecologist.

Dr Alyssa Dweck said wearing pants in bed can increase the risk of infection.

She told Shape magazine: “I often tell my patients to sleep without underwear.

“If [the groin] is constantly covered – especially by a fabric that’s not moisture-wicking or absorbent – moisture collects.

“That’s the perfect breeding ground for bacteria or yeast.”

Dr Dweck recommends “going commando” from time to time.

She said those who insist on wearing underwear in bed should choose loose-fitting briefs.

“If there’s ever a time to break out the granny panties, this would be it,” she said.

But underwear-clad men are also at risk, according to Dr Brian Steixner from the Jersey Urology Group.

He said that underwear can cause fertility problems.

He said: “Your nether regions need to be just the right temperature in order to optimise sperm production.

“More bacteria makes for a higher likelihood that any chafed or irritated skin down there becomes infected.”

(Picture: Rex)

You’re 27% more likely to die from cancer if you’re single

When it comes to surviving cancer, it is not about how much you have, but how much you are loved. Photo: AFP/Shutterstock

An study has linked marriage to higher survival rates in cancer patients.

Contrary to popular belief, how rich a couple is or what their social status is have little impact on cancer recovery.

However, care, understanding, and physical and emotional support are thought to play a key role in boosting survival rates.

Having someone at their side while battling the disease can improve the chances of survival for cancer patients, a study from the Cancer Prevention Institute of California has found. In fact, having someone there to provide care and support can help cancer patients combat the disease.

While this may seem like a foregone conclusion to some, the findings, published in the journal Cancer, could be worrying for single cancer patients living alone. Death rates were found to be 27% higher among unmarried men and 19% higher among unmarried women.

Dr Scarlett Lin Gomez and her team studied 800,000 people diagnosed with cancer between 2000 and 2009. They found that financial resources had little impact on patients’ survival.

However, having someone to take them to medical appointments, to cook healthy meals, to remind them to take medication, and to offer long-term love and support improved patients’ health and helped take some of the stress out of the situation.

As a result of their findings, the scientists underline just how important it is for patients living alone to call on friends or family to help them through their cancer treatment.

No one is suggesting they find a husband or wife for the occasion, but bolstering social connections and supportive relationships – with family, for example – can be beneficial both for practical assistance and emotional care and support.

The researchers also point out that long-term married life has been found to improve health and quality of life in general. Life expectancy for seniors growing old in a couple is higher than for those living alone. – AFP Relaxnews

How Coca-Cola affects your body when you drink it

Sugary drinks are considered a major contributor to health conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and tooth decay. But have you ever wondered exactly what these beverages do to your body after consumption? 

One researcher has created an infographic that explains what happens to the body within an hour of drinking a can of Coca-Cola.

A 12-ounce serving of Coca-cola contains approximately 10 teaspoons of sugar.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around half of the US population drink sugary beverages on any given day, with consumption of these drinks highest among teenagers and young adults.

There are approximately 10 teaspoons of added sugar in a single can of cola. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommend consuming no more than 6 teaspoons of added sugar daily, meaning drinking just one serving of cola a day could take us well above these guidelines.

As such, it is no surprise that sugary drink consumption is associated with an array of health conditions. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, people who drink 1-2 cans of sugary beverages daily are 26% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, and last month,Medical News Today reported on a study claiming 184,000 global deaths each year are down to sugary drink consumption.

Now, an infographic created by British pharmacist Niraj Naik - based on research by health writer Wade Meredith - shows the damage a 330 ml can of Coca-Cola can do to the body within 1 hour of consumption.

Coca-Cola 'comparable to heroin' in how it stimulates the brain's reward and pleasure centers

According to Naik, the intense sweetness of Coca-Cola as a result of its high sugar content should make us vomit as soon as it enters the body. However, the phosphoric acid in the beverage dulls the sweetness, enabling us to keep the drink down.

Blood sugar levels increase dramatically within 20 minutes of drinking the Cola, explains Naik, causing a burst of insulin. The liver then turns the high amounts of sugar circulating our body into fat.

Within 40 minutes, the body has absorbed all of the caffeine from the Cola, causing a dilation of pupils and an increase in blood pressure. By this point, the adenosine receptors in the brain have been blocked, preventing fatigue.

Five minutes later, production of dopamine has increased - a neurotransmitter that helps control the pleasure and reward centers of the brain. According to the infographic, the way Coca-Cola stimulates these centers is comparable to the effects of heroin, making us want another can.

This infographic reveals what Coca-Cola does to the body within 1 hour of consumption.
Image credit: Niraj Naik/Wade Meredith

An hour after drinking the beverage, a sugar crash will begin, causing irritability and drowsiness. In addition, the water from the Cola will have been cleared from the body via urination, along with nutrients that are important for our health.

According to Naik, the infographic is not only applicable to Coca-Cola, but to all caffeinated fizzy drinks.

"Coke is not just high in high fructose corn syrup, but it is also packed with refined salts and caffeine," writes Naik on his blog The Renegade Pharmacist. "Regular consumption of these ingredients in the high quantities you find in Coke and other processed foods and drinks, can lead to higher blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and obesity."

"However a small amount now and then won't do any major harm," he adds. "The key is moderation."

In a press statement, a spokesperson for Coca-Cola says the beverage is "perfectly safe to drink and can be enjoyed as part of a balanced diet and lifestyle."

Our Knowledge Center article - "How much sugar is in your food?" - looks at the sugar content of some of the most popular foods and drinks.

In August, another infographic went viral, revealing how energy drinks affect the body within 24 hours of drinking them.